The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-12


and irrevocably, that "Polly Must 60"
He was at once deprived of his liberty by
being put into his cage and transported
to Lancaster, five miles distant, to be sold.
He was kept in basement restaurant,
where for the first time saw him, loved
him, and bought him.
A large volume might be written of my
more than twenty years experience with
this wonderful creature; of the excursions
we made together through the surround
ing country; of our trips to various large
cities in Pennsylvania; of his tricks in
gymnastics; of his accompaniment when
] whistled "Sweet Home;" of his gather
ing up from the floor number of coins,
carefully bringing them to me in perfect
roll and placing them in my hand; of his
ringing bell, carrying little bucket of
water, bringing my hat, my handkerchief
or my purse, when told to do SO, and of q
number of other equally wonderful feats
indicating extraordinary sagacity, if not
reasoning powers. But will content
myself with giving one remarkable cpl
sode in his career which I think most
astonishing of all, and one in which I, for
one, found great difficulty in fixing the
line where "animal instinct" ceases and
reasoning faculties begin.
In 1876 left for Europe, and expecting
to stay several years, bethought me as to
what disposition to make of my pet, dur
ing my absence. 1t occurred to me that
the safest place would be the Geological
Gardens at Philadelphia, and there, &C.
cordingly, I left him. After three years
and three months absence, called at the
Zoo and requested the superintendent,
Mr.. Brown, to accompany me to the bird
house, telling him that proposed to put
Polly to test as to the retentiveness of
his memory. Mr.. Brown cheerfully COM
piled, and we were witnesses of one of
the most remarkable instances of animal
sagacity on record. I will quote from an
article in a Philadelphia paper, which
appeared few days later, and was writ
ten by one of the reporters after an in
terview with the superintendent. He
says: "On entering the bird.h Mr..
Sprenger took his station on the opposite
side of the building from that occupied
by Polly, where the bird could not see
him, and then exclaimed: where's my
Polly? Immediately the bird recognized
the voice of his former master, became
excited, walking back and forth on his
perch, showed as best he could, by voice
and gesture, that he wished to answer
the question by saying, Here am l. It
was clear case of instant recognition.
Then Mr.. Sprenger went to his pet, and
the scene is described by Mr.. Brown as
the reunion of parent and child. The
affectionate creature ran his bill through
his old masters moustache in the attempt
to kiss him, rubbed his head against his
cheek, then kissed him again and nestled
close to his old friend, as though he feared
he might lose him again. Then Mr..
Sprenger tested him in some of his old
tricks to prove his memory, and they were
performed with as much readiness as in
former days. Polly, 1 have lost my
pocket-book,' said his old friend, after
having dropped it. Then Polly went in
search of it, and soon brought it in his
bill, and having deposited it in his
friends hand, expressed his joy in q
hearty laugh. On Mr.. Sprenger's taking
his leave of him, he was almost frantic
with grief, and it was only with difficulty
that his keeper prevented him from fol-
lowing the master he so affectionately
loved"
If loved the bird before, that feeling
was intensified from that moment, and
money could no more have tempted me
to part with him than it could to part
with one of my children. Call it a strange
infatuation; call it weakness or effem-
macy; call it what you will, but my
solemn resolve from that day was that
"naught but death should part us two.
In 1881 Polly was brought from Lam
caster, Pa, to this city, where I had
located a year before, and soon attracted
unusual attention, as he had at the North,
exciting the wonder and admiration of all
who saw him. 1t was evident, however,
by noticeable failing Of eyesight and stiff
ness in his joints, that age was telling on
Polly, and this caused me to watch him
with as much solicitude as tender father
watches his child. My greatest fear was
that growing years might lead to decrep-
itude and helplessness with all the atten-
dant evils of extreme age. Often in my
contemplative moments did picture to
myself the probable final separation. At
last the end came. The closing scene of
this enigmatical existence burst upon my
view when 1 lie asst expected it.
Polly was entertaining a number OF
callers with his laughing, talking, whist
ling and barking program, until late
hour in the evening, and seemed to be in
his usual good spirits. After the com.
pany had left, members of the family
we're startled by plaintive cries from the
bird as if in great distress. Rushing into
the room, they found him lying on the
floor, to where he had fallen from the
back Of chair upon which he had beer
sitting, uttering the most pitiable cries
evidently trying to say Papa" (meanine
mel. L heard the commotion from 6